“As a collaborative partnership spearheading regional economic development for the Vancouver Island, we’re thrilled to be part of such a worthwhile initiative. Perhaps the most important objective is bringing together settlement, ecology and economy in balance,” stated George Hanson.
“The Bowker Blueprint is helping the community understand that: we all live in a watershed, all water ends up in the same place when it runs off the land, and everyone must commit to actions that improve watershed health. I have been involved in engineering for a long, long time and will soon be retiring. In the olden days, we would just pipe water away, and we would not think twice about it. In the latter part of my career, I have been part of a great team that has looked at rainfall differently and shares a vision for what the Bowker Creek watershed can be again,” stated Steven Fifield.
“It is a visionary plan and a first of its kind. The Blueprint details watershed and reach-specific actions to rehabilitate the creek channel and to restore hydrologic function to the watershed through the process of redevelopment over the next few decades. With a clear vision and Blueprint in place, municipalities and communities are able to incorporate efforts into operational work plans, volunteer and school group efforts and to work together with the development community to restore Bowker Creek and its watershed within a vibrant and active community,” stated Colin Doyle.
“Effective change will be the result of a new form of governance, one that recognizes the collaborative role of business, local government and community that enables the creation of a healthy economy within a sustainable environment,” states Eric Bonham.
“The essence of the VIEA-CAVI partnership is contained in the phrase economy and ecology in balance. VIEA promotes regional initiatives that strengthen economic capacity; and CAVI represents the ecological perspective through its championing of green infrastructure and water sustainability,” states Dave Willie.
“The knack is to demonstrate that the road to both short and long term economic security is through COLLABORATION. We have to demonstrate that ‘business as usual’ will eventually result in economic loss both short and long term. Then hearts and minds will be receptive to a vision for settlement, economy and ecology in balance,” states Eva Kras.
“Many BC watersheds are either already fully allocated or will be in the next 15 to 20 years. The model is web-based and enables scenario comparisons to assess the implications and impacts of a changing climate, in particular warmer winters and longer summers,” states Ted van der Gulik.
“The Partnership has brought together four regional districts as partners in an Inter-Regional Education Initiative. The ‘CAVI forum within the Summit’ is a springboard to collaboration, alignment and a consistent approach to achieve water and watershed sustainability up and down the east coast of Vancouver Island,” states Derek Richmond.
“Collaboration is the pathway to a consistent approach to water sustainability and green infrastructure policies and practices up and down the east coast of Vancouver Island. The Inter-Regional Education Initiative, IREI, will help all regions bridge the ‘implementation and integration gap’,” states Peter Law.
“By reviewing what was and wasn’t being done, the Link Team identified missing puzzle pieces within an overall picture of Vancouver Island leadership. One of the most pressing needs on Vancouver Island is creating awareness of the role that regional collaboration plays in strategic economic develoment,” states Marianne Stolz.
